Short Summary

PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA RETURNED TO HIS CAPITAL ON 27TH DECEMBER, AFTER HIS THREE-WEEK TOUR OF NEIGHBOURING STATES.

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PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA RETURNED TO HIS CAPITAL ON 27TH DECEMBER, AFTER HIS THREE-WEEK TOUR OF NEIGHBOURING STATES.

THE PRESIDENT'S TOUR WAS THE LONGEST HE WAS MADE ABROAD SINCE HE TOOK POWER INT HE CONGO MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. HE VISITED BURUNDI, UGANDA AND TANZANIA, AND ENDED THE TOUR WITH A THREE-DAY STATE VISIT TO ZAMBIA. THE TRIP ABROAD ENDED WHEN PRESIDENT AND MADAME MOBUTU AND THEIR PARTY FLEW FROM KITWE IN ZAMBIA ON 23 DECEMBER TO SPEND THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN KATANGA, THE CONGO'S SOUTHERNMOST PROVINCE BORDERING ON THE ZAMBIAN COPPERBELT.

HE TRAVELLED ON TO KINSHASA AFTER CHRISTMAS, AND WAS GIVEN A TRIUMPHAL WELCOME HOME TO THE CAPITAL. A 21 - GUN SALUTE BOOMED ACROSS THE AIRPORT AS THE PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT ARRIVED. LEADING MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS WERE THERE TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT, AND THERE WAS A GUARD OF HONOUR TO INSPECT BEFORE A DETACHMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN GUARD ESCORTED HIS MOTORCADE INTO THE CITY.

THERE WAS A WELCOMING CEREMONY AT THE PARC DE LA REVOLUTION BEFORE PRESIDENT MOBUTU DROVE OFF TO TOUR KINSHASA. THE STATE VISIT TO ZAMBIA HAD ENDED WITH A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE CONGOLESE LEADER AND PRESIDENT KAUNDA, IN WHICH THEY SAID THEY HAD AGREED TO START NEGOTIATIONS ON A TRADE PACT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

THE COMMUNIQUE ALSO SAID BOTH PRESIDENT WERE DISAPPOINTED AT WHAT THEY CALLED BRITAIN'S REFUSAL TO TAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO END THE RHODESIA REBELLION.

AND IT PAID TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT MOBUTU FOR, AS IT SAID, RIDDING THE CONGO OF REBEL WHITE MERCENARIES WHO HAD LONG THREATENED THE PEOPLE'S PEACE AND WELL-BEING.

SINCE RETURNING TO KINSHASA, PRESIDENT MOBUTU HAS SAID THE MERCENARIES..NOW DETAINED IN RWANDA... WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE CONGO FOR TRIAL. LAST NIGHT THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WILL WITHDRAW RIGHT TO OVERFLY ITS TERRITORY FROM ANY FOREIGN COMPANY ALLOWING ITS AIRCRAFT TO EVACUATE THE MERCENARIES FROM THE CAMP IN RWANDA.

COLONEL LASMAR BOUZAINE, WHO ONCE SPENT 18 MONTHS IN THE CONGO COMMANDING A TUNISIAN CONTINGENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE FORCE, ARRIVED IN KINSHASA RECENTLY TO TAKE UP THE JOB OF HIS COUNTRY'S FIRST AMBASSADOR.